Sen. Meotti Declines To Seek Fifth Term Representing 4th District

GLASTONBURY — When state Sen. Michael P. Meotti won political office eight years ago, he secretly thought to himself that he wasn't going to make it a lifetime post.

Keeping to his unspoken timetable, Meotti -- in a low-key telephone call Wednesday -- said that he would not seek a fifth term representing a district made up of Manchester, Glastonbury, Bolton and Hebron.

Meotti, 40, said he had reached a saturation point and wanted to dedicate the countless hours he spends at the Capitol to his family and his career.

Meotti's announcement surprised some Democrats, who now must muster up a replacement candidate less than two weeks before the nominating convention. His leaving the legislative train also presents, for Glastonbury, the second departure of a long-term lawmaker.

Veteran state Rep. Robert D. Bowden, a Republican, saidearlier this year that he was retiring. Both men live in Glastonbury.

``It's a great demand,'' Meotti said. ``When I was first elected in 1987, I said I didn't see the Senate as my lifetime career. Six or eight years, I thought would be good.''

Meotti, who was Senate chairman of the transportation committee, acknowledged that stress was a factor in his decision. The state's chronic budgetary hardships and other politically strident issues have only heightened the difficulty of the job, leading to greater lawmaker burnout than in the past.

``I think what we're seeing is in the '80s the average length of service was going up,'' he said. ``But in the '90s, there will be significant turnover, and I think a lot has to do with burnout.''

The budget takes a great deal of time to work out, balancing conflicting demands among the various constituents and legislators, he added.